Members of 3VB featured in The Lawyer’s Top 10 Appeals of 2024
The Lawyer has released its feature on The Top 10 Appeals of 2024, recognising the leading matters that will appear in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in the forthcoming year.
Six members of 3VB feature across the following three cases in the list:
- Celestial Aviation Services v Unicredit Bank AG; Constitution Aircraft Leasing (Ireland) 3 and another v Unicredit Bank AG
This commercial dispute concerns whether the obligation of a bank to pay out under Stand By Letters of Credit issued to Aircraft Leasing Companies is affected by British, European and American sanctions imposed on Russia as a result of the Ukraine war. 2-day Court of Appeal hearing listed in May 2024.
For the defendant/appellant, UniCredit Bank AG: 3VB’s David Quest KC and James McWilliams, instructed by RPC partner Davina Given.
- London International Exhibition Centre v Allianz and others
This was a lead test case in a two week expedited trial in April 2023 on ‘at the premises’ business interruption insurance cover, which is a major outstanding issue in the insurance market on COVID-19 business interruption coverage. The insurers resisted coverage on causation grounds and also on basis that the ExCeL Centre was repurposed as the flagship ‘Nightingale’ hospital, and so was not closed for the purposes of lockdown regulations. A 4-day hearing in the Court of Appeal is listed in June 2024, which is set to determine the insurers liability.
For the respondent, London International Exhibition Centre: 3VB’s Adam Kramer KC & William Day, instructed by Stewarts Law’s partner Aaron Le Marquer & senior associate James Breese.
- Infrastructure Services Luxembourg and another v The Kingdom of Spain
A high-value Court of Appeal case at the intersection of investment treaty arbitration and state immunity, in which Spain is resisting enforcement of an ICSID award on the basis of state immunity. A 2-day Court of Appeal hearing is listed in June 2024.
For the appellant/defendant, the Kingdom of Spain: 3VB’s Tariq Baloch and Cameron Miles, instructed by Simmons & Simmons partners Stuart Dutson and Raquel Ballesteros, and associates Jonny Schuman, Craig Gilchrist and Eliza Jones.
